Antigenic fragment of human T-lymphotropic virus

ABSTRACT

Antigenic fragments of human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV), their fusion proteins with glutathione Stranferase (GST) or thioredoxin (Thio), and a process for producing the fusion proteins thereof. The antigenic fragment of HTLV comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID Nos: 3 or 4.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application and claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 10/423,156, filed Apr. 25, 2003 (now allowed), and Taiwan Application Serial No. 91135980, filed Dec. 12, 2002, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide fusion proteins of human T-lmphotropic virus (HTLV) with Glutathione S-transferase (GST) or Thioredoxin. The fusion proteins have the advantage of high specific and sensitive to is HTLV-I/II and the preparation of these proteins is safe and effective. In addition, the fusion proteins can be applied in HTLV-I/II assay. Using genomic engineering, the antigenic viral recombinant protein expressed by E. coli can be prepared in large quantities at low cost. Moreover, avoiding the cultivation and purification of HTLV, the preparation of the present invention is safer than the current preparation.

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the invention features an isolated peptide comprising an antigenic fragment of HTLV-I gp21 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No: 3.

The invention also features an isolated peptide comprising an antigenic fragment of HTLV-II gp21 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No: 4.

In addition, the present invention features an isolated nucleic acid encoding an antigenic fragment of HTLV-I gp21, wherein the nucleic acid comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID No: 55.

The present invention also features an isolated nucleic acid encoding an antigenic fragment of HTLV-II gp21, wherein the nucleic acid comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID No: 56.

Both of the aforementioned nucleic acids encoding antigenic fragments in the invention can be optionally combined with glutathione S-transferase (GST) or thioredoxin (thio) to form 4 recombinant nucleic acids as below.

1. A nucleic acid encoding GST/HTLV-I gp21 fusion protein, wherein the nucleic acid comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID No: 57.

2. A nucleic acid encoding Thio/HTLV-I gp21 fusion protein, wherein the nucleic acid comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID No: 59.

3. A nucleic acid encoding GST/HTLV-II gp21 fusion protein, wherein the nucleic acid comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID No: 58.

4. A nucleic acid encoding Thio/HTLV-II gp21 fusion protein, wherein the nucleic acid comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID No: 60.

In addition, the present invention also features an expression vector comprising a nucleic acid encoding any of the four fusion proteins operably linked to a nucleotide sequence regulatory element that controls expression of the nucleic acid and a process for producing the HTLV antigenic fragments. The process comprises introducing an expression vector comprising a nucleic acid encoding any of the four fusion proteins into a cell, culturing the cell under conditions suitable for production of the fusion protein, and recovering the fusion protein from the cell culture.

In one embodiment of the process, the cell is Escherichia coli, for example, BL21(DE3) strain. For the production of GST/HTLV gp21 fusion protein, recovery is enabled by glutathione sepharose column; for the production of Thio/HTLV gp21 fusion protein, recovery is enabled by NiNTA column.

Accordingly, the four nucleic acids encode four fusion proteins as below.

1. GST/HTLV-I gp21 fusion protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No: 5.

2. Thio/HTLV-I gp21 fusion protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No: 7.

3. GST/HTLV-II gp21 fusion protein comprising the 10 amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No: 6.

4. Thio/HTLV-II gp21 fusion protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No: 8.

Another aspect of the invention features a kit for the detection of human T-lymphotrophic virus(HTLV). The kit comprises a solid substrate, a first HTLV gp21 antigenic fragment immobilized on the solid substrate, a blocking solution for blocking a HTLV gp21 antigenic fragment-unbound region on the solid substrate, a second HTLV gp21 antigenic fragment, a wash solution, and a signal-producing means operably linked to the second HTLV gp21 antigenic fragment to produce a signal, wherein the first and second HTLV gp21 are selected from any of the fusion proteins.

In one embodiment of the kit in the invention, the first HTLV gp21 is Thio/HTLV-II gp21 fusion protein, and the second HTLV gp21 is GST/HTLV-I gp21 fusion protein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more fully understood and further advantages will become apparent when reference is made to the following description of the invention and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B show nucleotide sequences of HTLV antigenic fragment. FIG. 1A represents the entire sequence of HTLV-I gp21; and FIG. 1B represents the entire sequence of HTLV-II gp21.

FIG. 2A-2C shows vector pGEX-KG (2A), and the construct pGST/HTVL-I gp21 (2B) as well as the construct pGST/HTLV-II gp21 (2C).

FIG. 3A-3C shows vector pThioHis B (3A), and the construct pThio/HTLV-I gp21 (3B) as well as the construct pThio/HTLV-II gp21 (3C).

FIG. 4 represents a SDS-PAGE analysis for purified GST/HTLV-I gp21 (lane 1) and GST/HTLV-II gp21 (lane 2) fusion proteins (33 kDa).

FIG. 5 represents a SDS-PAGE analysis for purified Thio/HTLV-I gp21 (lane 1) and Thio/HTLV-II gp21 (lane 2) fusion proteins (25 kDa).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

HTLV is classified as HTLV-I and HTLV-II; diseases caused by HTLV-I include adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) developed by about 2-3% of infected patients, HTLV-I associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) developed by only 2˜3% of infected patients, generally appearing in middle age(40-50 yrs). For those infected by transfusion, however, the duration shortens to one month to 4 years, with 95% of infected patients experiencing no lifelong symptoms. HTLV-II is considered to act as associated with atypical hairy cell leukemia.

HTLV genome is ss(+)RNA composed of gag, pal, env, tax and rex genes. gag gene is translated into a polyprotein, and then spliced into mature core proteins: p19, p24, p15, etc. pol gene is translated into reverse transcriptase, integrase, and RNAse H. env gene is translated into envelop proteins p21 and p46. tax and rex genes are associated with viral replication. After infection, HTLV induces human antibodies against viral gag protein, mainly p24. The antibody arises 2 months after infection and then antibodies against viral surface protein are produced.

The present invention is based on the discovery of a region rich in antigenic determinants in HTLV-I gp21 (SEQ ID No: 1) and HTLV-II gp21 (SEQ ID No: 2) by antigenic determinant analysis of HTLV-I/II. The region is shown below.

The frame regions indicate antigenic determinants.

Using assembly PCR, modified HTLV-I gp21 and HTLV-II gp21 genes were synthesized according to the gene sequence from genebank. The HTLV-I gp21 gene was modified with E. coli preferred codons. Using these sequences as templates, gp21 fragments with 270 bp were amplified by PCR and cloned into pGEX-KG or pThioHisB.

Therefore, the present invention features two isolated peptides, an isolated peptide comprising an antigenic fragment of HTLV-I gp21 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No: 3, and an isolated peptide comprising an antigenic fragment of HTLV-II gp21 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No: 4.

The two peptides of the present invention are encoded from two nucleic acids, an isolated nucleic acid encoding an antigenic fragment of HTLV-I gp21, wherein the nucleic acid comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID No: 55, and an isolated nucleic acid encoding an antigenic fragment of HTLV-II gp21, wherein the nucleic acid comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID No: 56.

Any of the aforementioned antigenic fragments can be optionally combined with glutathione S-transferase (GST) or thioredoxintthio) to form 4 recombinant nucleic acids as below.

1. A nucleic acid encoding GST/HTLV-I gp21 fusion protein, wherein the nucleic acid comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID No: 57.

2. A nucleic acid encoding Thio/HTLV-1 gp21 fusion protein, wherein the nucleic acid comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID No: 59.

3. A nucleic acid encoding GST/HTLV-II gp21 fusion 25 protein, wherein the nucleic acid comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID No: 58.

4. A nucleic acid encoding Thio/HTLV-II gp21 fusion protein, wherein the nucleic acid comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID No: 60.

In addition, the scope of the invention also includes an expression vector comprising a nucleic acid encoding any of the four fusion proteins operably linked to a nucleotide sequence regulatory element that controls expression of the nucleic acid, and a process for producing the HTLV antigenic fragments. The process comprises introducing a expression vector comprising a nucleic acid encoding any of the four fusion proteins into a cell, culturing the cell under conditions suitable for production of the fusion protein, and recovering the fusion protein from the cell culture. Examples of the expression vector include pGST/HTLV-I gp21, pThio/HTLV-I gp21, pGST/HTLV-II gp21, and pThio/HTLVII gp21. The aforementioned expression vectors have been deposited in the Bioresources collection and research center in Taiwan, Republic of China, and the depository numbers are 940407, 940405, 940408, and 940406, respectively.

In one embodiment of the process, the cell is Escherichia coli, for example, BL21(DE3) strain. For the production of GST/HTLV gp21 fusion protein, recovery is enabled by glutathione sepharose column; for the production of Thio/HTLV gp2l fusion protein, recovery is enabled by NiNTA affinity column.

Accordingly, the four nucleic acids encode four fusion proteins as below.

1. GST/HTLV-I gp21 fusion protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No: 5.

2. Thio/HTLV-I gp21 fusion protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No: 7.

3. GST/HTLV-II gp21 fusion protein comprising the 30 amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No: 6.

4. Thio/HTLV-II gp21 fusion protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No: 8.

The invention also features a kit for the detection of human T-lymphotrophic virus(HTLV). The kit comprises a solid substrate, a first HTLV gp21 antigenic fragment immobilized on the solid substrate, a blocking solution for blocking a HTLV gp21 antigenic fragment-unbound region on the solid substrate, a second HTLV gp21 antigenic fragment, a wash solution, and a signal-producing means operably linked to the second HTLV gp21 antigenic fragment to produce a signal, wherein the first and second HTLV gp21 are selected from any of the fusion proteins.

In one embodiment of the kit in the invention, the first HTLV gp21 is Thio/HTLV-II gp21 fusion protein, and the second HTLV gp21 is GST/HTLV-I gp21 fusion protein.

The solid substrate of the kit includes, but is not limited to, glass, silicon, ceramic, metal, or organic polymer such as styrene, ethylene, propylene, ester, acrylic acid, acrylic ester, alkyl acrylic acid, or alkyl acrylic ester.

The blocking solution includes a solution of BSA, casein, or gelatin.

The wash solution includes PBS, TBS, or PBST with 0.05% Tween 20.

The signal producing means includes radioactive label, fluorescent label, phosphorescent label, luminescent label, or enzyme. The luminescent label includes biological luminescent label or chemical luminescent label. The enzyme includes alkaline phosphatase, hydrogen peroxidase, or β-galactosidase. In one embodiment, the kit further comprises a substrate, and the susbtrate reacts with the enzyme to produce a color.

In another embodiment of the detection kit of HTLV, the signal producing means further includes a biotin and a avidin, the avidin operably binding to the radioactive label, fluorescent label, phosphorescent label, luminescent label, or enzyme. The enzyme includes alkaline phosphatase, hydrogen peroxidase, or β-galactosidase. In addition, the kit further comprises a substrate, and the substrate reacts with the enzyme to produce a color.

EXAMPLE 1 Assembly PCR for the synthesis of HTLV-I/II gp21

HTLV-I gp21 gene sequence from GeneBank D13784 was modified with E. coli preferred codons. 20 primers were designed for assembly PCR to synthesize HTLV-I gp21 of 505bp as shown in FIG. 1A (SEQ ID No: 9). The two ends were designed with Nde I (5′) and Xho I (3′) restriction sites. The primers are shown below. (SEQ ID No: 10) I F1: CGCAT ATGGG TGCAG GCGTT GCTGG CGGTA TCACC GGCTC (SEQ ID No: 11) I F2: TGGCA TCCGG TAAAT CTCTG CTGCA CGAAG TTGAC AAAGA (SEQ ID No: 12) I F3: CGCAG TACGC TGCAC AGAAC CGTCG TGGCC TGGAC CTGCT (SEQ ID No: 13) I F4: AACAG GGTGG CCTGT GCAAA GCACT GCAGG AACAG TGCTG (SEQ ID No: 14) I F5: AACAG GGTGG CCTGT GCAAA GCACT GCAGG AACAG TGCTG (SEQ ID No: 15) I F6: ACATC ACTAA CTCCC ACGTT TCTAT CCTGC AGGAA CGTCC (SEQ ID NO:16) I F7: AAAAC CGTGT ACTGA CTGGC TGGGG CCTGA ACTGG GACCT (SEQ ID No: 17) I F8: CTCAG TGGGC TCGTG AGGCG CTGCA GACTG GTATC ACCCT (SEQ ID No: 18) I F9: TGCTG CTGCT GGTTA TCCTG GCAGG TCCGT GCATC CTGCG (SEQ ID No: 19) I F1O: GTCAC CTGCC GTCTC GTGTA CGTTA CCCGC ACTAC TCTCT (SEQ ID NO: 20) I R1: CGCTC GAGTT ACAGG GAAGA TTCCG GTTTG ATCAG AGAGT AGTGC GGGT (SEQ ID No: 21) I R2: CGAGA CGGCA GGTGA CGCAG CTGAC GCAGG ATGCA CGGAC (SEQ ID No: 22) I R3: ATAAC CAGCA GCAGC AGCGC AACCA GGGTG ATACC AGTCT (SEQ ID No: 23) I R4: TCACG AGCCC ACTGA GACAG GCCCA GGTCC CAGTT CAGGC (SEQ ID No: 24) I R5: GTCAG TACAC GGTTT TCCAG CGGCG GACGTT CCTGC AGGA (SEQ ID No: 25) I R6: TGGGA GTTAG TGATG TTCAG GAAAC AGCAC TGTTC CTGCA (SEQ ID No: 26) I R7: CACAG GCCAC CCTGT TCCCA GAACA GCAGG TCCAG GCCAC (SEQ ID NO : 27) I R8: TGTGC AGCGT ACTGC GCGAT TTTCA GCAGG TTTTT GTGGT (SEQ ID No: 28) I R9: ATTGC CTGAG TCAGC TGGGA GATGT CTTTG TCAAC TTCGT (SEQ ID No: 29) I R1O: GATTT ACCGG ATGCC AGGGA CATGG AGCCG GTGAT ACCGC

According to HTLV-II gp21 gene sequence from GeneBank NC_(—)001488, 20 primers were designed for assembly PCR to synthesize HTLV-II gp21 of 514bp as shown in FIG. 1B (SEQ ID No: 30). The two ends were designed with Nde I (5′) and Xho I (3′) restriction sites. The 20 primers are shown below. (SEQ ID No: 31) II F1: CGCAT ATGGC CGGGA CAGGT ATCGC TGGCG GAGTA ACAGG (SEQ ID No: 32) II F2: CTAGC TTCCA GTAAA AGCCT TCTCT TCGAG GTTGA CAAAG (SEQ ID No: 33) II F3: CCTTA CCCAG GCCAT AGTCA AAAAT CATCA AAACA TCCTC (SEQ ID No: 34) II F4: AATAT GCAGC CCAGA ATAGA CGAGG ATTAG ACCTC CTATT (SEQ ID No: 35) II F5: GGGGG TTTGT GCAAA GCCAT ACAGG AGCAA TGTTG CTTCC (SEQ ID No: 36) II F6: TAACA CTCAT GTATC CGTCC TCCAA GAACG GCCCC CTCTT (SEQ ID No: 37) II F7: TCATC ACCGG TTGGG GACTA AACTG GGATC TTGGT CTGTC (SEQ ID No: 38) II F8: CGAG AAGCC CTCCA GACAG GCATA ACCAT TCTCA CCCTA C (SEQ ID No: 39) II F9: CATAT TGTTT GGCCC CTGCA TCCTC CGCCA AATCC AAGCC (SEQ ID No: 40) II F1O: GGTTA CAAAA CCGAC ATAGC CAGTA TGCCC TTATC AACCA (SEQ ID No: 41) II R1: CGCTC GAGTT ATAGC ATGGT CTCTT GGTTG ATAAG GGCA (SEQ ID No: 42) II R2: GTCGG TTTTG TAACC GCTGC GGAAG GGCTT GGATT TGGCG (SEQ ID No: 43) II R3: GGGCC AAACA ATATG ACAAG GAGGA GTAGG GTGAG AATGG (SEQ ID NO: 44) II R4: CTGGA GGGCT TCTCG TGCCC ACTGG GACAG ACCAA GATCC (SEQ ID NO: 45) II R5: CCCAA CCGGT GATGA CACGC TTTTC AAGAG GGGGC CGTTC (SEQ ID NO: 46) II R6: GATAC ATGAG TGTTA CTGAT ATTGA GGAAG CAACA TTGCT (SEQ ID NO : 47) II R7: TTTGC ACAAA CCCCC TTGTT CCCAG AATAG GAGGT CTAAT (SEQ ID No: 48) II R8: TCTGG GCTGC ATATT GTGCA ACCCG GAGGA TGTTT TGATG (SEQ ID No: 49) II R9: ATGGC CTGGG TAAGG TGGGA GATAT CTTTG TCAAC CTCGA (SEQ ID No: 50) II R1O: TTTAC TGGAA GCTAG AGATA GGGAG CCTGT TACTC CGCCA

EXAMPLE 2 Construction of pHTLV gp21

The fragments amplified by assembly PCR were separated by 2% agarose gel and purified by QIAquick Gel Extraction Kit (QIAGEN). DNA was eluted with 50 μL elution beffer (10 mM Tris-Cl, pH 8.5), and treated by Nde I and Xho I. pET15b 20 was also treated by Nde I and Xho I, separated by 0.8% agarose gel, and purified by QIAquick Gel Extraction Kit (QIAGEN) to obtain a DNA fragment of 2900bp. Ligation of the pET 15b and HTLV gp21 fragment was performed by DNA Ligation Kit (TaKaRa) at 16° C. for 40 min. The ligation product was transformed into DH5α competent cell. The recombinant constructs were analyzed and designated “pB119/HTLV-I gp21” and “pB119/HTLV-II gp21” respectively.

EXAMPLE 3 Construction of pGST/HTLV-I/II gp21

Using pB119/HTLV-I gp21 or pB119/HTLV-II gp21 as template, HTLV gp21 antigenic fragment of 270 bp was amplified with two sets of primers: two ends of HTLV-I gp21 fragments were designed with NcoI (5′) and Hind III (3′) restriction sites, and two ends of HTLV-II gp21 fragments were designed with BamHI (5′) and Hind III (3′) restriction sites. (SEQ ID No: 51) I gp21 (270)/GST F: CGCCA TGGGT GCATC CGGTA AATCT CTGCT G (SEQ ID No: 52) I gp21 (270)/GST R: CGAAG CTTCA GGCCC CAGCC AGTCA GTAC (SEQ ID No: 53) II gp21 (270)/GST F: CGGGA TCCGCTTC CAGTA AAAGC CTTCT C (SEQ ID No: 54) II gp21 (270)/GST R: CGAAG CTTTA GTCCC CAACC GGTGA TGAC

The fragments obtained are as shown in SEQ ID No: 55 and 56. The two fragments were cloned into pGEX-KG as in the map shown in FIG. 2A and designated pGST/HTLV-I gp21 and pGST/HTLV-II gp21, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, respectively. The nucleotide sequence of GST/HTLV-I gp21 is shown as SEQ ID No: 57, whereas that of GST/HTLV-II gp21 is shown as SEQ ID No: 58.

EXAMPLE 4 Construction of pThioredoxin/HTLV-I/II gp21

pB 119/HTLV-I gp21 or pB119/HTLV-II gp21 were treated with Nco I (5′) and Xho I (3′) to obtain gp21 fragments with 6 histidine on the N end. The gp21 fragments were subcloned into pThioHisB (Invitrogen) as the map shown in FIG. 3A. The resulting expression constructs were designated pThio/HTLV-I gp21 and pThio/HTLV-II gp21 as shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C respectively. The nucleotide sequence of Thio/HTLV-I gp21 is shown as SEQ ID No: 59, whereas that of Thio/HTLV-II gp21 is as SEQ ID No: 60.

EXAMPLE 5 IPTG Induction of Protein Expression

The expression constructs were transformed into BL21(DE3) expression host and 200 rpm vibration-cultured in 1 L of LB/Amp at 37° C. Bacteria were grown to O.D.₅₉₅=0.8, and 1 mL of the bacteria culture was sidelined for “expression control” (T0). 1 mL of 1M IPTG (isopropyl-b-Dthiogalactopyranoside) was added to the rest of the culture to induce protein expression. After 3 hr induction, 1 mL of the bacteria culture was sidelined as Ta. The bacteria harvested at different time intervals were lysed with lysis buffer separately. The volume of the lysis buffer varies according to the equation of O.D.×volume (μl) 20=lysis buffer volume (μl). An equal volume of sample buffer was then added and the reaction was heated at 95° C. for 5 min. 10 μl of the sample was analyzed by SDS-PAGE. The rest of the culture was centrifuged at 8000 rpm for 15 min to collect bacteria for subsequent preotein purification.

EXAMPLE 6 Confirmation of the Expressed Protein Forma

The centrifuged bacteria were resuspended and homogenized with 100 mL IMAC-5 with 0.1 % Triton-100. The bacteria were lyzed by microfluidizer and centrifuged at 15000 rpm for 30 min to separate supernatant and pellet. The expressed protein was confirmed with SDS-PAGE for soluble form and inclusion body.

EXAMPLE 7 Purification of GST Fusion Protein

GST/HTLV-I gp21 (33kDa) or GST/HTLV-II gp21 (33 kDa) were purified by Glutathione Sepharose™ 4B (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech). The centrifuged bacteria were resuspended and homogenized with 100 mL IMAC-5 with 0.1% Triton-100. The bacteria were lyzed by microfluidizer and centrifuged at 15000 rpm for 30 min to separate supernatant.

2 mL Glutathione Sepharose™ 4B column was prepared and balanced with 10 mL IMAC-5 with 0.1% Triton-100. 50 mL supernatant was passed through the column twice. Unbound protein and impurities were washed out by 10 mL IMAC-5 with 0.1% Triton-100. Finally, GST fusion protein was eluted with 30 mL of 10 mM Glutathione.

EXAMPLE 8 Purification of Thioredoxin Fusion Protein by Ni-NTA Affinity Column

For the purification of Thio/HTLV-I gp21 and Thio/HTLV II gp21 in the form of inclusion bodies, the unsoluble pellets after homogenization were resuspended with 60 mL IMAC-5 with 8M Urea and stirred overnight. The solution was centrifuged at 15000 rpm for 30 min to obtain the supernatant. The supernatant wa passed through 2.5 mL ni-NTA affinity column twice or 3 times. The impurities were washed away with the buffer listed below in sequence; Buffer B (8M urea, 0.1M NaH₂PO₄, 0.001M Tris.HCl, pH 8.0); Buffer C (8M urea, 0.1M NaH₂PO₄, 0.001M Tris.HCl, pH 6.3); Buffer D (8M urea, 0.1M NaH₂PO₄, 0.001M Tris.HCl, pH 5.9); Buffer E (8M urea, 0.1M NaH₂PO₄, 0.001M Tris.HCl, pH 4.5). The final protein was eluted with 8M urea containing 100 mM EDTA. All steps were performed at room temperature.

EXAMPLE 9 Analysis of HTLV-I/II Antigenic Protein

The fusion protein GST/HTLV-/II gp21 was prepared to increase protein expression and soluble form protein. The results of purified fusion protein GST/HTLV-VIII gp21 are shown in FIG. 4, GST/HTLV-I gp21 (lane 1) and GST/HTLV-II gp21 (lane 2) are both 33 kDa and purity over 90%.

The fusion protein Thio/HTLV-I/II gp21 was prepared for direct sandwich ELISA which reduces non-specific signals in background. The results of purified fusion protein Thio/HTLV-I/II gp21 are shown in FIG. 5, Thio/HTLV-I gp21 (lane 1) and Thio/HTLV-II gp21 (lane 2) are both 25 kDa and purity over 95%.

EXAMPLE 10 Biotinylatin of Antigenic Protein

GST/HTLV-I/II gp21 (33 kDa) was concentrated to 1 mg/mL and dialyzed to PBS buffer. Dissolved biotin protein solution was added to the protein solution slowly with continuous mixing. After a 2-hour reaction at 4° C., Tris HCl was added to a final concentration of 50 mM to terminate the reaction. The biotin-labeld protein was then dialyzed to 50 mM Tris HCl for the subsequent direct sandwich ELISA.

EXAMPLE 11 Assay of Specificity and Sensitivity for Human Sera

The preliminary test results show that Thio/HTLV-II gp21 can be used for coating in accompaniment with biotin-labeld GST/HTLV-I gp21. To investigate whether HTLV fusion protein has good sensitivity, HTLV sera standard control (Anti-HTLV I/II Mixed Titer Performance Panel, BBI) and sera from Tainan Blood Donation Center identified as positive by western blotting were used. Normal sera were used for testing specificity of the fusion protein. In the method described below, 1 μg Thio/HTLV-II gp21 per well diluted in 100 μg coating buffer (0.013M Na₂CO₃, 0.035M NaHCO₃, pH 9.6) was coated on 96-well plate. After 1 hour incubation at 37° C., the plate was washed with PBST (PBS with 0.05% Tween 20) three times 200 μl overcoating buffer (GBC corp.) was added per well to incubate at 37° C. for 2 hours. The fluid was drawn out and the plate was stored at −20° C. for the subsequent experiment. 100 μl 20× diluted sample sera in 5H Specimen Diluent C (GBC corp.) was added per well and the plate was incubated at 37° C. for 1 hour. The plate was then washed with PBST six times. 100 μl 250× diluted biotin-labeld GST/HTLV-I gp21 in 2Ha conjugate Diluent (GBC corp.) was added per well and the plate was incubated at 37° C. for 1 hour. The plate was then washed with PBST six times. 100 μl Avidin conjugate AP (1:5000 dilution) in 2Ha conjugate Diluent (GBC corp.) was added per well and the plate was incubated at 37° C. for 1 hour. The plate was then washed with PBST six times. 5 mg p-nitrophenyl phosphate (Sigma) was dissolved in 5 ml color developing buffer (10% Diethanolamin, 0.5 mM MgCl₂) as color developing solution. 100 μl color developing solution was added per well and the plate was incubated at 37° C. for 15 min. The results were read at OD 405 nm by ELISA reader (Bio-Rad Model 550).

The results show that the average absorbance is 1.052 for sera from Taiwan Blood Donation Center identified as positive by western blotting (19 samples of HTLV-I positive), 1.098 for Anti-HTLV I/II Mixed Titer Performance Panel (BBI) (7 samples of HTLV-I positive and 11 samples of HTLV-II positve), 0.1528 for 92 normal sera. The results have significant differences between positive and negative samples. The fusion proteins have good sensitivity and specificity, with both exceeding 99%. Therefore, the fusion protein can act as a detection agent for HTLV.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with the reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. An isolated peptide comprising an antigenic fragment of HTLV-II gp21 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 4. 2. An isolated nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding an antigenic fragment of HTLV-I gp21, wherein the nucleotide sequence is SEQ ID NO:
 55. 3. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 2, further comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding glutathione S-transferase (GST), wherein the isolated nucleic acid has the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 57 encoding a fusion protein GST/HTLV-I gp21 comprising an antigenic fragment of HTLV-I gp21 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 and glutathione S-transferase (GST), the fusion protein being designated GST/HTLV-I gp 21 and having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 5. 4. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 2, further comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding thioredoxin (Thio), wherein the isolated nucleic acid has the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 59 encoding a fusion protein Thio/HTLV-I gp21 comprising an antigenic fragment of HTLV-I gp21 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 and thioredoxin (Thio), the fusion protein being designated Thio/HTLV-I gp 21 and having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 7. 5. An isolated nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding an antigenic fragment of HTLV-II gp21, wherein the nucleotide sequence is SEQ ID NO:
 56. 6. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 5, further comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding glutathione S-transferase (GST), wherein the isolated nucleic acid has the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 58 encoding a fusion protein GST/HTLV-II gp21 comprising an antigenic fragment of HTLV-II gp21 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 and glutathione S-transferase (GST), the fusion protein being designated GST/HTLV-II gp21 and having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 6. 7. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 5, further comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding thioredoxin (Thio), wherein the isolated nucleic acid has the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 60 encoding a fusion protein Thio/HTLV-II gp21 comprising an antigenic fragment of HTLV-II gp21 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 and thioredoxin (Thio), the fusion protein being designated Thio/HTLV-I gp 21 and having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 8. 8. An expression vector, comprising a nucleic acid encoding a fusion protein, wherein: the fusion protein contains the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7; the nucleic acid is operably linked to a nucleotide sequence regulatory element that controls expression of the nucleic acid; and the nucleic acid comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 59. 9. A process for producing an antigenic fragment of HTLV gp21, comprising: introducing the expression vector of claim 8 into a cell; culturing the cell under conditions suitable for production of a protein; and recovering the protein from the cell culture to obtain the antigenic fragment of HTLV gp21.
 10. An expression vector, comprising a nucleic acid encoding a fusion protein, wherein: the fusion protein contains the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6; the nucleic acid is operably linked to a nucleotide sequence regulatory element that controls expression of the nucleic acid; and the nucleic acid comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 58. 11. A process for producing an antigenic fragment of HTLV gp21, comprising: introducing the expression vector of claim 10 into a cell; culturing the cell under conditions suitable for production of a protein; and recovering the protein from the cell culture to obtain the antigenic fragment of HTLV gp21.
 12. An expression vector, comprising a nucleic acid encoding a fusion protein, wherein: the fusion protein contains the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6; the nucleic acid is operably linked to a nucleotide sequence regulatory element that controls expression of the nucleic acid; and the nucleic acid comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 60. SEQ ID NO:
 60. 13. A process for producing an antigenic fragment of HTLV gp21, comprising: introducing the expression vector of claim 12 into a cell; culturing the cell under conditions suitable for production of a protein; and recovering the protein from the cell culture to obtain the antigenic fragment of HTLV gp21.
 14. A process for producing an antigenic fragment of HTLV gp21, comprising: introducing an expression vector into a cell, wherein the expression vector contains a nucleic acid encoding a protein having the amino acid sequence of any of SEQ ID NO: 5, the nucleic acid comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 57 and being operably linked to a nucleotide sequence regulatory element that controls expression of the nucleic acid; culturing the cell under conditions suitable for production of a protein; and recovering the protein from the cell culture to obtain the antigenic fragment of HTLV gp21.
 15. A kit for the detection of human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV), comprising: a solid substrate, a first HTLV gp21 antigenic fragment immobilized on the solid substrate, a blocking solution for blocking a HTLV gp21 antigenic fragment-unbound region on the solid substrate; a second HTLV gp21 antigenic fragment, a wash solution, and a signal-producing means operably linked to the second HTLV gp21 antigenic fragment to produce a signal, wherein the first and the second HTLV gp21 antigenic fragments each contains the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 6-8.
 16. The kit of claim 15, wherein the antigenic fragments each contains the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6.
 17. The kit of claim 15, wherein the antigenic fragments each contains the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7.
 18. The kit of claim 15, wherein the antigenic fragments each contains the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8. 